Winchester Cathedral Christmas Market returns with festive cheer

The cathedral's Christmas market features stalls from companies across Hampshire, as well as the wider country and expects more than 130,000 visitors.

Ron Knowlton, 68, came up from the Isle of Wight to see the Christmas market, which he has visited for many years, with his wife and friends.

Read more: Winchester Christmas lights switch-on event on November 14

The Christmas market is already a hit (Image: Charles Elliman) He said: "We live on the Isle of Wight [...] but we've come up to the market to get a bit of Christmas spirit going!

"It feels like the first day of Christmas, even though we're still in November."

Ron is somewhat of an aficionado when it comes to Christmas markets, having visited many throughout Europe.

Asked what his favourite thing was so far, he said: "The llama pictures! They were made with fabric and we were taken by them."

He was also impressed by the huge gluhwein vats and said: "We've been to European Christmas markets and we haven't seen that before!"

Read more: Winchester’s Christmas Market has started taking shape

Corinne Whillock (Image: Charles Elliman) Salisbury jeweller Lulu & Boo were set up at the Chapter House Lawn, selling their recycled designs to intrigued customers.

Jeweller Corinne Whillock, 50, said: "It's [the market] been rated in the polls in the top 2, 3, markets in the country!"

The company, named after her daughter and dog, has been coming for the past three years and thinks it is great for business.

She said: "It's always a nice market! Lots of people; lots of loyal and returning customers I've had over the years.

"There is a really lovely atmosphere. The location of it, beneath the cathedral, it's lovely."

Read more: Winchester Cathedral invites Christmas market-goers inside

Sarah Nelson (Image: Charles Elliman) The Test Valley Distillery, an award-winning Hampshire-based company, was doing a roaring trade under the sunlit cathedral.

Co-owner and founder Sarah Nelson said: "We're the local distillery here in Winchester. We've got three award-winning gins, all gold medal winners, including the winner of the London Dry at the World Gin Awards."

Sarah works with her husband John, who co-owns and founded the business with her. They came to take advantage of the Christmas trade and promote their first rum.

She said: "We like to offer people a little taster -try before you buy!" Their rum was featured as 'Rum of the Month' in the Craft Gin Club's July issue.

The market is open for a month, running daily, from Friday, November 22 to Sunday, December 22.